The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-20
The Gullibility Of Men and Women.

The Gullibility of Men and Women.
The disappearance of Mrs. Howe, the
Boston banker, with $4,000 deposited with
her is made the occasion for discussing the
question whether women are more gullible
than men. Not very many months ago
Mrs. Howe was arrested as a swindler. and
sent to the House of Correction She pre-
tended to do a legitimate banking business,
and offered to pay enormous rates of inter
est The feature of her business was that
she received deposits only from women
She is a very benevolent looking woman
and plausible talker. Women deposited
with her cautiously at first, and then more
freely. When she had accumulated large
sum her true character became known.
All the facts connected with
her business, her arrest and her
conviction were widely published. About
everybody in Boston must have heard of
her swindling operations and of her inn
prisonment She no sooner regained her
liberty, however, than she resumed her re-
markable banking business. She promised
to pay s per cent per month ON deposits,
women who trusted her.
1t is difficult to understand how women
of sense could have believed that she meant
to deal honestly with her customers. Those
who entrusted their money to her must
have heard of her previous swindling opera
tions, and must have known also that no
legitimate business would justify the pay
ment of such enormous interest. 1t NAV
be that they did not think that
Mrs. Howe was engaged in a
legitimate business. In that case they are
entitled to no sympathy. They are not
much better morally than Mrs Howe is.
Each probably thought she was shrewd
enough to protect herself against loss, and
that the other depositors would be the
losers
With respect to the question whether
women are more gullible than men, it may
be urged that men would not have risked
their money where such an enormous in
terest was promised, because they would
have known that it was impossible for any
honest business to pay it. But did they not
risk their money with Grant q Ward
That firm did business on pretty much the
same plan that Mrs. Howe did, and Vet
some very good business men put their
money into it, Like Mrs. Howes custom.
ers, they, of course, came TO grief.
a day or two ago lot of green goods
swindlers were arrested in New York city.
and the correspondence found by the police
in their rooms showed that there were hun
dreds of people i'll the South and West who
were anxious to deal with them. 1t is
hardly probable that all, or even "a MAORI
ty, OF those applying for the alleged coun-
terfeit notes had not read of the swindling
operations Of the green goods men, Why
was it, then, that they We're so eager to take
the chances of being swindled. Were they
not just as gulliblc as the women who de
posted money with Mrs. Howel
Women do some very foolish things
where money is concerned, but there is
ample evidence to show that the men do
things just about as foolish. Mrs. Howe
and the green goods" swindlers have a
pretty thorough knowledge of human
nature It is even probable, in view of the
success that other convicted swindlers have
met with, that Ferdinand Ward will re-
establish his banking business on the old
plan as soon as he is released from Sing
Sing, and TINT, too, with a fair prospect of
meeting with encouragement.
Anarchist Most, who is said 10 be mouth
personined, delivered an eldrass in Phila-
delphia Sunday b "A small audience Among
other things he said "lsthis a republic. this
Amaricai Liberty rs lie. Your govern
nirut is an Infamous sNindlen H. threat.
eue1 the reporter with death, rv,liel The
church, nul declared IL no crime 81 ldll po.
hcanan We indorsed the Chicago An
archists, and announced that capitalist.
arstoerat. ADD all existing orders Of s0
ciety were condemned The penitentlary
b fho bet paon FOR fellow like Most. anl
u isn ply that ihe liberty enjoyed iu uls
equity permit him NJ Dr. 90 lurEe